Latch



Jan. 15, 1929. 1,698,745v

M. J. TRAY LATCH Filed April 23, 1928 Patented Jan. 15, 1929.

UNITED STATES MICHAEL J'. TRACY, 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

LATCH.

Application filed April 23, 1928. Serial No. 271,992.

This invention relates to improvements in latches.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved latch for use in latching doors or gates, and comprising one or more concealed longitudinally movable locking bolts mounted in the wall instead of on the door or gate and designed and adapted for vertical movements to engage the ends ot the door or gate in concealed and inaccessible positions.

Another object of t-he invention is to provide an improved latch possessing the advantages and merits of the latch herein disclosed, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a View showing the latching bolts in engagement with thelupper and lower extremities of the gate or door.

F ig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the door and wall showing the engagement of the latch bolt with the upper port-ion of the door in an inaccessible location.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view showing the latch bolt in engagement with the lower portion of the gate or door in an inaccessible position.

In the speciiic embodiment of the invention shown the upper latching bolt 1 is enclosed within a stationary metallic enclosure 2, the upper end of said latching bolt projecting through the upper end of said enclosure 2.

The lower latching bolt 3 is also enclosed within a metallic enclosure 4 and projects downwardly through the lower end of said enclosure 4.

As shown, the door 5 is mounted for sliding movements along the wall of which the enclosures 2 and 4 form a part. This door 5 is operatively supported by a bracket 6 projecting from its upper end and seating upon balls 7 mounted upon a support 8. The bracket 6 is provided with a lateral extension 9 having a longitudinal slot 9a formed with notches in its opposite edges in which the upper end of the locking bolt 1 engages when the door 5 is closed. The lower end of the door 5 supports a strong bar 10 which extends for longitudinal movements under the lower end of the enclosure 4 and has a notch 11 adapted to receive the lower end of the lower latching bolt- 3 when the door 5 is closed.

The supporting bracket G for the door is located within an enclosure comprising a vertical wall 12, end walls 13 of which one is shown, said end walls being provided with inturned flanges 14, and an additional wall 15 fitted upon the flanges 14 and having its edge engaging under a holder 1G. A bar 1T engageswith brackets 18 on the wall 15 and thus prevents detachment of said wall until said bar 7 removed. The upper enclosure thus constructed continesI and renders inaccessible the door supporting structure and the latching device lor the upper end of the door so that it is impossible to tamper with the latching devices.

Near its upper end the upper latching bolt 1 is provided with notches 19 which receive the edges of the bracket extension 9 at the sides of the slot 98L when the latching bolt 1 is in its upper or unlocking position. lVhen the lower latching bolt 3 is in its upper or unlocking position the lower end thereof is out of the notch 11. Thus when both latching bolts 1 and 3 are in their unlatched positions the door 5 is capable ot lateral movement trom closed position; and, when t-he door 5 is in any of its intermediate positions, that is to say when said door is not entirely closed, the lower end ot the lower latching bolt 3 is above the bar 10 and cannot be moved downwardly, and the upper walls of the notches 19 of the upper latching bar 1 are above the bracket extension 9 and cannot be moved downwardly.

The lower end of the latching bolt 1 is connected with an actuator 20, and the upper end of the latching bolt 3 is connected with an actuator 21. The specific construction of these actuators and their engagement with t-he respective latching bolts 1 and 3 are not shown because the same do not constitute a part of the present invention, it being sufficient for present purposes to know that turning movement of the actuator' 20 will raise the latching part 1 from latched to unlatched position, and vice versa; and turning movement of the actuator 21 will move the latch bolt 3 from latched to unlatched position, and vice versa.

The provision of actuators of suitable construction is well within the skill of those skilled in this art and, since the specific features of these actuators are not herein claimed, further illustration or description thereof is deemed unessent-ial. For, the essence of the present invention exists in that construction, combination and arrangement of parts wherein the latch bolts are wholly concealed and are inaccessible so that it is im- 2 Legamel possible to knovvbyfniere observation Whether the door is latched or unlatched, and it is also impossible to tamper with the latch bolts or to know from observation the manner in which the latch bolts engage the partsto be latclied.

I am aware that the construction and arrangement of the devices forming the invention may be varied Within equivalent limits Without departure from thenature and principle thereof. do not restrict. n'iyseltunessentially in these or other respects, but. what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. The combination with a wall, a door', anddcvices for supporting said. door 'for-slid" ing movements along said Wall, of a bar mounted in said Wall 'for vertical sliding` movements to and from latcliing engagement With said devices, and means enclosing and preventing access to said devices. Y

2. The combination with a Wall, a door, and devices for supporting: said 'door for sliding` movements along,` said Wall, ot a bai mounted in said Wall for vertical sli-ding movements to and from latching engagement with said devices, and means enclosing' and preventing access to said devices and said bar.

3. The combina-tion with a Wall, a. door, and means for supporting the 'door for sliding movements along,` the Wall, of latch bars movable to andV from latching engagement- With the upper and lower portions of the door, and means enclosing` and'` preventing access to said supporting devices and said bars.

4; Thecombinationvvitn a Wall, a door, a supporting element in connection with the Wall, and a bracket attached to the door for Voperation on said supporting` element, of an enclosure enclosing and preventing access to said bracket, and a latch bar operating in said enclosure to and trom locking engagement With said bracket.

5. The combination With a Wall and a door slidable alongsaid'wall, of an enclosure above said door, a part extending from said doorl into said enclosure, and a. latch bar mountedl in the wall ier engaging said part ofsaid` door in said enclosure.

6. The combination with a Wall, an enclosure in said Wall, and door movable edgeivise along said wall and having' a part ei;- tending` under said enclosure, ci" a latch bar mounted in said enclosure and movable to and from en:E Lgement with said part of said door.

7. The combination With a Wall, rigidly stationary enclosing means in connection with said Wall, latch bars coniinedv within said enclosing means, and a door movable laterally along said Wall to and from position to be 4engaged by said latclibars.

MICHAEL J. TRA Y. 

